Elastic coupling



May 16. `1939- J. BAUMANN l2,158,847

ELAsTrc couPmNa Filed Feb; 19, 1957 2 sheets-Sheet 1 May 16, 1939.I J. BAUMANN 2,158,847

` Y ELASTIC COUPLING Fi1ed Feb. 19, 1937 2 sheets-sheet 2 SNNENTOK novmuus smnmnl KTTQLNEY,

. {Pesca-@Mw 1,6., 1939. f

amaai:

- Emsrrc comme Johannes Baumann, Heidenheim-on-the-Brenz,

Germany,assignor to J. M. Voith, Heidenheim- 1 i on-thei-Brenz, Germany, and St. Poelten, Ausf 1, 1 1' tria, la copartnership composed foi Walther l Voith, St. Poelten, Austria, and Hermann Voith ""and= Hanns` `Voith, Heidenheim-on-the-Brenz, j"

Germany PATENT OFFICE i "1 y. `,A1iilicaiiiui` Febury 19, 1937, serial No. 126,692 InGermany February zo., .1.938 i 11 claims. `(ci. s4- 15) l invention vrelates to elastic `couplings and vmore particularly to that vtype in which the cou- 1 ,pling members are joined by intervening spring members, such as shown in` United States Letters Patent No. 2,042,069, dated .May 26, 1936.`

1 In couplings otthis general class, it has been'` found that in cases of excessive load or sudden shock-like demands thereupon, danger existed in.

\ `respect to breaking of` parts of `the coupling.

To overcome these objections, the object of the invention is to provide means whereby such an overloading or such shock-like strains may be f absorbed in such a manner that the parts of the coupling are not injured, by virtue of a progressiye taking up oi' the load.

' i The invention consists in providing means for 'absorbing such shocks and various loads, and one.

embodiment includes a seriesl oichambers Viilled with oil or grease in one of the coupling meme. bers, into which chambers, teeth-like projections arranged on the other` coupling enter, so arranged that. the shock-like movement to which, one coupling member may be subjected, will necessitate the movement of the teeth against the resistance of the oil or grease, untilthe teethabut againstV the walls forming the chambers, which gives a further resistance to the relative movement of the coupling members, and thus prevents damage to the springs by the shock action. l

To make the coupling responsive to varied loads, theinvention consistsifurther in providing `a series or pluralities of springsbetween the coupling members, arranged tor correspond tothe entire loadnto which the eiasticicoupling is in, tended to be subjected, one plurality oi! springs i taking up the lighter loads and another -plu rality of springs taking up the heavier loads, the

springs having such elastic spring characteristics that the heavier loads are taken `up by the heavierl springs, after thelighter loads have been absorbed by the lighter springs,

Finallyfthe invention consists in the combina-u Y tion of su'chfa series oi' pluralities of springswith the'fiuid shock absorbing chambers and teeth, in

which,`in one embodiment, a iioating ring pro-J` vided with teethlike projections is connected to two `sets of springs, such floating ring teeth en- "tering into grease lledchambersin both coupling 1membersto: which the other ends of the springs are connected, `whereby Vupon `,one shock-like :strain beingv applied, the floating .ring teeth co,-

,1 operate with theA-chambersof the-,member of the 'i coupling having11 oneset .of springs, and upon a.' greater `shock-like strain the teeth cooperate with the chambers of the other member oi the cous fthereof.

As the usual couplings have only one set of `springs vdisposed between the two members ot the coupling, these springs `are calculated to resist the highest ,normal demandsthereom` `Such cou- 1 the invention;

pling having the other or stronger springs. In each case wherein the grease or oil is used, the parts are so arranged as to act as throttling members to the free flow oi the oil or grease, so as to provide aI suitable resistance to the'moving parts subjected tothe shock. 1 One of the 'advantages of the invention is that an elastic coupling of this type maybe subjected tostrains greater than the calculated' elasticity of the springs, without injuring the coupling or parts plers, in consequence, `are not as elastic as they should be for the lower `loads and did notmeet vsuch demands or did so only in a partially satisfactory mannenx The embodiment of this invention having two or more sets of springs, complies with this requirement in that the sets of 1 springs, are made'to correspond to diiIerent load 1 demands. Thereby, during 4the lower loads only certain ofthe setsof springs come into operation,v and during higher loads additional sets come into operation. A 4floating ring forming with the coupling members shock absorbing means, is disposed between thetwo sets of springs, whereby sudden shocks are fully or partially'dampened out or absorbed. 1 I

1 The foregoing invention comprises then, means disposed between the coupling members to ab- 4sorb the various loads to which the coupling is subjected, wherein the spring connecting memlbers are.' protected from excessive shocks on the one hand, and are"permitted on the other hand, to respond to parts of the entire load to which the coupling is intended to be subjected.

, In the accompanying drawings:

1 1f Figure 1 is a1 partial side view of two coupling members showing one embodiment of this inven- Figure 2 is a -section taken on line 2-2 of Fis. 1; 1

1 Figure 3 is a partial side view of the two coupling mmebers showing another` embodiment of Figure 4 is a section taken online I-l ot Figure-5 isa partial sideview or the two coupling members showing still another embodiment of this invention as seen on line 5 5 oi' Fig. 6 @in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 isa section taken on line of F15 53 f i vided along its Figure '1 shows a section of the floating ring forming part of the embodiment of Fig. 6; and

Figure 8 is a partial side view of the ring shown in Fig. '1, as seen in the direction of the arrow in Fis. '1.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the various views.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figures l and 2, the coupling as is well known, consists of two members one of which, indicated by reference character il, is secured to the shaft ii and has a radially outwardly extending portion I2 provided with circumferentially disposed and spaced recesses or holes Il' for the reception of legs Il of the coupling springs Il. The coupling member ill is procircumferential portion with a plurality of tooth-like members i6, as shown in Figure l, and said members I6 are suitably spaced apart. In Fig. l, only one of these tooth-like members is shown as one or a plurality thereof may be utilized.- In Fig. 1, the position shown of the members i6 corresponds to the normal full load of the coupling. 'I'he other coupling member Il is provided with a sealing member lla which rests upon the coupling member I0 and at its peripheral portion is provided with a series of cut-outs forming chambers. VThese .cut-outs are deeper than the length of the projections I6 and are also longer than the widthof the projections i6 so as to provide a spatial portion between the tooth-like projection I6 and the chamber I9. In addition, in this embodiment. there is provided a restricting space between the two coupling members I! and Il, as shown erence character ZIV-"which is relatively small so as to act as a nstriction for the flow of any iiuid therebetween. Likewise, the space between the outermost portion of the tooth-like projection I6. and chamber il provides a narrow space 2i* which also acts as a restricted area to the ow of any fluid therebetween. The space between the walls of the chamber Is and the walls of the toothlike projection i6 is filled with lubricating grease or oil of suitable consistency which, due to the constricted portion 2l between the coupling members, is largely maintained within the chamber, when the coupling is under normal operation. Ihe chamber is closed at one end portion by a suitable shoulder portion 2i in the wall forming the coupling member Il, and the other end portion of the chamber is closed by the wall I2 of the driven member 23. The driven member 2l is secured to the coupling member il by means of bolts 2l engaging the driven member Il through an opening 2l in coupling member il. Thus the side walls isa, lsb and top wall isc together with shoulder Il and the wall -22 of the driven member 2l, form an enclosed space which is filled with grease or oil in which space the tooth-like projections I6 are capable of moving against the resistant action of the grease or oil.

'Ihe coupling member Il is also provided with circumferentially arranged and spaced holes or recesses I1 for the entrance of the other leg members Ila of the springs il, in a manner well known.

In Figures 3 and 4, the coupling i2 is again provided with a tooth-like projection "a entering the chamber Ild formed by cut-outs in the walls of coupling Il, but in this case the toothlike projection Ila is provided with a slotted porln Fig. l, indicated by refg corresponding Awall of the tion 2l acting as a guide for a piston-likemember 26. The piston member 2s may be pushed outwardly by springs 26a or the like in any wellknown manner, or may be actuated only by centrifugal force due to the rotation of the coupling members. A suitable oil or grease filling valve 26 is shown in Figure 3 which on the removal of its cap is adapted to be used to fill the chambers between the coupling members and also to supply any losses which have to be compensated for. After the nliing has been accom- `plishedv the cap of this filling member 2s is replaced.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the ends of the chambers lld are formed by parts 2| of the wall of coupling member I6 and wall 12 of the driven member Il.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the underlying concept of having tooth-like members entering into chambers formed by one or the other members, is shown. but in this case the toothlike projections form part of a noating ring which is disposed between two sets of springs. There are a plurality of these springs circumferentially arranged around and between the coupling members, and in Figure 6 only one spring of each set is shown. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the floating ring 86 has a plurallty of slots or recesses Ii for the entrance of one leg of one set of springs and the ring is provided on the other side thereof with a plurality of laterally projecting spaced apart toothlike members or projections I2. Ihese may or may not have a sli ng piston member such as shown by the numeral Il which here is subjected to centrifugal action. The coupling members in this embodiment, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, are so arranged that each coupling member has a cut-out portion, one member along its outer periphery and the other coupling member on its interior bore portion and the cut-outs are arranged in complementary fashion, that is, one coupling member Il has cut-outs I6 while the other coupling member I6 has cut-outs I1. These cut-outs havev substantially the same width so that the two cut-outs Il and $1 when registering with each other form a chamber 3s therebetween. In this chamber 3l one of the projections l2 of the floating ring I6 projects. While these cut-outs side walls and top and bottom walls of the chamber Il, the end walls are formed on the one hand by the shoulder ss of coupling member I6 and the other end of the chamber is-substantially closed by the wall 4l of 'the floating ring l.. After the oating ring projections 32, enter chambers $6, the space therebetween and between the coupling members, is filled with oil or grease, in the same manner as heretofre described.

Referring more particularly to Figure 6, the shaft Il has a coupling member I4 which has its radially extended portion provided with recesses or slots a for the inwardly extending leg 4i of the coupling spring 4 2, the other leg 43 of the spring l! entering into slot M of the coupling .member s6; The member 34 has an opening IIb to allow exchange of grease or oil and air from one part of the interior of the coupling to the other. The coupling member Il is provided with a slot M for the leg 4I of the spring I2, and the coupling member Il has an additional hole 46 for the leg 61- of the spring Il. The other leg l! of the spring 4I enters a hole 8i of the floating ring l.. It is of course understood that a plurality of of both couplings form the l these springs are circumferentially arranged around the coupling members and suitably held for rotary movability in the coupling members.

The coupling member 36 in the embodiment `shown in Fig. 6, is made of two parts for convenience of manufacture, and these parts are suitably bolted by bolts 53 and nuts mand the iii" depending portion 54 of the coupling member 3l `is suitably bolted bybolts 55 and nuts 55a to the driven member 56 which is secured to the driven shaft 51.- `As in the other embodiments, the coupling member 361s also furnishedwith a sealing member 58 disposed between the coupling memtion, press outwardly against the bore ni.' the `coupling member 36.

In Figures '7 and 8, detail views of theiloating ring I0, are shown.

In Figure 5, the parts there shown correspond to the position ofthe' coupling members when they are under no load. Ifl the coupling member 34 rotates in the direction of the arrow 6|, `and the coupling is put under load, the teeth 62 of the member I4 move relative to member 36 in the direction of the arrow El until they abut against teeth 32 o! the floating ring 30. Up to this position, torque is transmitted only through springs I2. If the .load is further increased, the heavy springs 48, through the medium of the oating ring', participate in the transmission of the torque until teeth 32 of floating ring "30 which rotates in accordance with the yielding movement of theheavysprings, abut against the wall of the i chambers 38 in the coupling member 36. From `from being overstrained.

the fact that chambers 38 are Illled with a lubricant fluid enclosed by restricting partait is clear that the relative motion of the teeth 62 of coupling I4, as well` as that of floating ring 30,\re quires a displacement of lubricatingiiuid through the restricted spaces, which ii' sudden motions of the Said parts occur due to sudden load changes and shocks in the load demand, provide a shock absorbing eiect protecting the springs The invention comprises also the use of a plurality of elastic spring members of different characteristics, whereby the sphere of usefulness of elastic couplings is increased. In contrast to a single plurality oi.' such springs which are usually calculated for the maximum load of the coupling,

and which `whenrused with lower loads are not suiiiciently elastic, and thereby or in part, the invention hereinabove described, comprises a plu- 'rality `of `sets of springs, each set in this case having different spring characteristics. Thereby, the coupling is made sufficiently elastic throughout the range of loads to which such coupling is subjected, each group of connecting members being of such elastic characteristicsas to correspond best to the load it is intendedto assume. Thus, as described, by va suitable selection oi' spring connecting members, only those members corresponding to their load are switched in or set in i operation, whereas with higher or the highest loads the additional set of plurality of connecting members is switched in, and these first after the i limit of the rst group has been reached, or at a time just prior thereto. By the transformation of excessive shock energy to the form changing work and friction, the relatively delicate spring connecting members are protected against objectionable strains. t

is then transposed and The action of the viscous medium or fluid or grease is elastic in that it is enabled to ow as described, so that from one extreme to the other o1' the load the yielding fluid action and the elastic spring action cooperate to have one coupling member rotate `the other. i

It will have been noted that theinvention in 'part comprises an elastic all metal coupling which enables the demands made upon such a coupling,

due to the energy created by very strong shocks,

`to be met, the shock energy being either transis particularly important when the coupling is connected with masses of large flywheel effects. The energy generated by the shocks is during the angular rotation of the coupling members partially or entirely consumed in addition to such as is consumed by the elastic spring resistance, and therebyv the excessive demands otherwise made upon these sensitive elastic coupling parts is avoided, or at least decreased to an extent as to be harmless. The work produced by the change of form of the plastic medium such as grease, and the friction enables this to be achieved in connection with the cut-outs or chambers in one couplingand the entering tooth-like projections of the other coupling, with the resisting grease in constricted ow channels` therebetween, which boring space of narrower cross section. By this pressing of the grease through the narrower or constricted portions, form changing work is done, and on the other hand energy is absorbed by friction. i i

The coupling members describedl are usually in the form of rotating discs facing each other, and have therebetween either one set of a plurality of spring connecting members or a plurality of such sets, which spring connecting members transmit the action of rotation of one coupling disc to the other.

The means added to the known elastic cou pling are adapted to absorb all the effects of variations in the load to which the coupling is intended to be subjected, insuch a way that the strain on the said elastic means is to a predetermined maximum.

Fromthe foregoing description, it will be seen that my invention may be employed in various forms and devices, and it is clear `that changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the attached claims. f

` I claim: i

l. An elastic coupling, comprising coupling members'adapted tovrotatably change their positions yinrespect toeach other, resilient means therebetween for transmitting rotary movement of one coupling member to the` other coupling member within the maximum load to which said resilient means -is intended to be subjected, said resilient means consisting of all metal C springs lhaving one end engaging `one coupling member and the other end engaging another coupling member, straddling two adjoining coupling members and being stressed substantially torsionally only, when under load, and means, independent of the springs, operative at the overload and beyond the maximum load of said springs, to rnesafely limited pressed through a neighby effecting direct transmission of the overload directly from one coupling member to the oLher.

2. An elastic coupling, comprising coupling members adapted to rotatably change their positions in respect to each other, resilient means therebetween for transmitting rotary movement of one coupling member to the other coupling member within the maximum load to whichfsaid resilient means is intended to be subjected, said resilient means consisting oi all metal C springs having one end engaging one coupling member and the other end engaging another coupling member, straddling two adjoining coupling members and being stressed substantially torsionally only, when under load, means, independent of the springs, operative at the overload and beyond the maximum load of said springs, to mechanically join the Vcoupling members and prevent the action of an overload upon said springs by effecting direct transmission of the overload directly from one coupling member to the other, said last named means comprising cutouts forming chambers in one coupling member, and projections for said chambers on the other coupling member.-

3. An elastic coupling, comprising coupling members adapted to rotatably change their positions in respect to each other, resilient means therebetween for transmitting rotary movement oi one coupling member to the other coupling member within the maximum load to which said resilient means is intended to be subjected, said resilient means consisting ci all metal C springs having ends engaging the coupling members, means, operative at the overload and beyond the maximum load of said springs, to mechanically join the coupling membersiand'prevent the action of an overloadupon said springs by ei'- iecting direct transmission of the overload directly from one coupling member to the other, said last named means comprising cutouts forming chambers in one coupling member, projections for said chambers on the other coupling member, a viscous medium in said chambers, and a constricted now means for said medium, for

the absorption of shocks by means of form changing work and friction of the viscous medium.

-4. An elastic coupling, comprising coupling membersadapted to rotatably change their positions in respect to each other, resilient means therebetween for transmitting rotary movement of one coupling member to the other coupling member, within the maximum load to which said resilient means is intended to be subjected, said resilient means consisting of all metal C springs having ends engaging the coupling members, means, operativeat the overload and beyond the maximum load of said springs, to mechanically join the coupling'members and prevent the action of an overload upon said springs by eil'ecting direct transmission of theoverload directly from one coupling` member to the other, said last named means comprising cutouts Vforming chambers in one coupling member, projections for said chambers on the other coupling member, a viscous medium in said chamber, a constricted flow means for said medium, for the absorption of shocks by means of form changing work and friction of the viscous medium, and piston means disposed between the projection and wall of the cutout for closing the gap therebetween.

5. An elastic coupling, comprising coupling members adapted to rotatably change their positions in respect to each other, resilient means therebetween for transmitting rotary movement of one coupling member to the other coupling member within the maximum load to which said resilient means is intended to be subjected, said resilient means consisting of all metal C springs having ends engaging the couplingv members,

v means, operative at the overload and beyond the maximum load of said springs, to mechanically join the coupling members and prevent the action of an overload upon said springs by effecting direct transmission of the overload directly from one coupling member to the other, said last named means comprising cutouts forming chambers in one coupling member, projections for said chambers on the other coupling member, a viscous medium in said chamber, a constricted flow 'means for said medium. for the absorption of shocks by means of form changing work and friction of the viscous medium, piston means disposed between the projection and wall of the cutout for closing the gap therebetween, and a spring for moving the piston of the piston means.

6. An elastic coupling, comprising coupling members adapted to rotatably change their positions in respect to each other, resilient means therebetween for transmitting rotary movement of one coupling member to the other coupling member within the maximum load to which said resilient means is intended to be subjected, said resilient means including a plurality of sets of all metal C springs having ends engaging the coupling members, one of the ends of one set of springs being free from connection with the coupling members, and a ring connected with the iree ends of the last named set of springs and having projections, each of said coupling members having cutouts forming chambers adapted to be engaged by said projections.

7. An elastic coupling, comprising coupling members adapted to rotatably change their positions in respect to each other, resilient means therebetween for transmitting rotary movement of one coupling member to the other coupling member within the maximum load to which said resilient means is intended to be subjected, said resilient means including a plurality of sets of all metal C springs having ends engaging the coupling members, one of the ends of one set of springs being free from connection with the cou` pling members, a ring connected with the free ends of the last named set of springs and having projections, each of said coupling members having cutouts forming chambers adapted to be f engaged by said projections, a viscous medium in the chambers, and a constructed now means for said medium for the absorption of shocks by means oi form changing work and friction of the viscous medium.

8. An elastic coupling, comprising coupling members adapted to rotatably change their positions in respect to each other, resilient means therebetween for transmitting rotary movement oi? one coupling member to the other coupling member within the maximum load to which said resilient means is intended to be subjected, said resilient means including a plurality of sets of all metal C springs having ends engaging the coupling members, one of the ends of one set of springs being tree from connection with the coupling members, a ring connected with the free ends of the last named set of springs and having projections, each of said coupling members having cutouts forming chambers adapted to be engaged by said projections, a viscous medium in the chambers, a constricted flow means for said medium for the absorption of shocks by means of form changing work and friction of the yiscous medium, and piston means disposed between the projections and walls of the chambers for closing the gap therebetween.

9. An elastic coupling, comprising coupling members adapted to rotatably change their positions in respect to each other, resilient means therebetween for transmitting rotary movement oi one coupling member to the other coupling member within the maximum load to which said resilient means is intended to be subjected, said resilient means including a plurality of sets of all metal C springs having ends engaging the coupling members, one of the ends of one set of springs being free from connection with the coupling members, a ring connected with the free ends of the last named set of springs and having projections, each of said coupling members having cutouts forming chambers adapted to be engaged by said projections a viscous medium in the chambers, a constricted flow means for said medium for the absorption of shocks by means of form changing work and friction oi.' the viscous medium, piston means disposed between the projections and walls of the chambers for closing the gap, therebetween, and a spring for moving the piston of said piston means.

10. An elastic coupling, comprising coupling members adapted to rotatably change theirlpositions in respect to each other, resilient means therebetween for transmitting -rotary movement o! one coupling member to the other coupling member within the maximum load to which said resilient means is intended to be subjected. said resilient means including a plurality of sets of all metal c springs having ends engaging the coupling members, one of the ends of one set of springs being free from connection with the coupling members, and a ring connected with the free ends of the last named set of 'springs and having projections, each of said coupling members having cutouts forming chambers adapted to be engaged by said projections, one set of springs being adapted for the lighter loads, the other set of springs being adapted for the heavier loads, said projections of the ring en` gaging only the walls of the chambers of one coupling member during the lighter loads and the walls of the chamber of bothof the coupling members during heavier loads.

11. An elastic coupling, comprising coupling members adapted to rotatably change their positions in respect to each other, resilient means therebetween for transmitting rotary movement oi' one coupling member to the other coupling means is intended to be subjected, said resilient means including a plurality of sets of all metal C springs having ends engaging the coupling members, one of the ends of one set of springs being free from connection with the coupling members, and a ring connected with the free ends of the last named set of springs and having projections, each of said coupling members having cutouts forming chambers adapted to be engaged by said projections, one set of springs being adapted for the lighter loads, the other set of springs being adapted for the heavier loads, said projections of the ring engaging only the walls Vof the chambers of one coupling member during the lighter loads and the walls of the chambers of both of the coupling members during heavier loads, the higher loads being taken up by the higher load set before the load limit of the lighter load set is reached.

JOHANNES BAUMANN. 

